150

"Bring us about to 180 mark 5." Macen ordered as soon as Grace handed back her Attuner, "Engage at maximum warp."

Grace looped the ship end over end and engaged the engines. Within minutes, Dracas was on the horn, "I thought we were done with all this high warp claptrap."

"Life or death, Chief." Macen divulged, "We get caught, we die."

Dracas knew Macen wasn't prone to exaggeration. "I'll see what little extra I can squeeze out of the engines."

"It'd be appreciated." Macen said and terminated the connection.

"The Omicron ship is now in pursuit." Daggit reported.

"Why do I always have to be right?" Macen complained to Riker, who merely chuckled with gallows humour.

Aboard the Omicron ship, whose name roughly translated as Predator of the Night, the Ship Liege approached the sensor section of the ship's bridge. The officer literally plugged into the alcove viewed his commander with multifaceted eyes without removing his gaze from the various displays laid out before him.

"Scan Tech, what have you learned of the enemy vessel?"

"While it is twice the size of the other human vessel, it is far less heavily armed than would expected of a warship of that size. Given its sensor capability and limited weaponry, I'd say Lord Ezexial's proxy is correct, it is an observation vessel. Perhaps in his employ."

"Why then why does it run?"

"I have no answer my Liege."

"I do. I perused the ship's databanks. This Macen was essential to the expulsion of the Omicron mission on Magna Roma. During the orbital attack, the Wave Skipper, encountered a vessel like this Tulley's. It was much more heavily armed and powerful than his pathetic raider." The Liege explained, "This same ship later engaged another Omicron cruiser. They were spared only by the appearance of a more powerful ship. A ship built along similar lines as this one. Strategists largely agree that this Macen was in command of that ship as well."

"This human as defied the Imperium twice and lived to tell the tale?"

"He's not human. Apparently he belongs to some species from across the galaxy."

"Could this account for his continued survival?"

"Perhaps." The Liege mused, "We must be prepared for anything. Keep your eyes on your screens and inform me of the slightest change."

"Yes, milord."

The Liege moved to the pilot's alcove. The multi-limbed pilot was busily making minor course correction to account for the enemy vessel's evasive manoeuvres. The pilot possessed an enlarged cranium that allowed it to interface with the ship. All of the onyx skinned Omicron wore simple loincloths. Their thick skin was proof enough against most injury or weaponry.

"Status Pilot?" the Liege asked.

"The ship has increased speed to kerup 9.67. I have accelerated to our maximum velocity of kerup 9.998 but we shall not overtake the craft for approximately 900 ticks."

"Just so long as we catch them." the Liege assured her and moved on. Now it was time to discuss strategy with the Weapons Officer.

"They've accelerated to warp 9.998." Daggit reported.

"How long until they overtake us?" Macen asked grimly.

"Fifteen minutes."

"How long until we can reach the next system?"

"Seventeen minutes." Grace answered.

"Here's the plan: we stay alive long enough to hide in the atmosphere of some sizeable gas giant. Hopefully the static discharge will confuse their sensors."

"Too bad there isn't a nebula handy." Danan commented.

"Let's focus on what we have and what we can do." Macen replied, "Lees, how many gas giants are in the Lynx system?"

"Twelve, with two supergiants that fit your needs. There's also a smaller protostar reminiscent of Jupiter in the Sol system."

"Hannah, aim for the protostar. The added heat and radiation should help disguise us."

"You got it!" Grace said with nervous enthusiasm.

Macen knew some of the anxiety on the bridge stemmed from his insecurities about facing the Omicron ship. But the facts were simple: in two previous encounters with Omicron vessels of this class, they'd gotten their arses handed to them. The Obsidian was horribly outmatched. The best they could hope for was survival…and even that would come at a price.

Macen forced himself not to think of the potential body count as the minutes ticked by and the Predator loomed ever closer. Soon the Ort cloud of the Lynx system loomed before them. Macen was about to order Grace to slow to impulse when the ship suddenly rocked from a sudden impact. The ship automatically dropped out of warp.

"Sorry, Captain." Dracas' voice boomed over the intercom as the battlestation lights snapped on, "The warp core has been…neutralised for wont of a better word. We'll do our best to get it back up."

"Focus on keeping the impulse reactor and auxiliary power going." Macen instructed, "We absolutely cannot afford to lose either of those."

"Look at it." Grace said with awe in her voice as the Omicron ship sailed past. It was like an organic beast. It had wings and a tail. The wings rippled in space as it travelled. It curved as it began its turn to make a second pass.

"Lees, what the hell is that thing?" Macen demanded.

"Its like stingray on Earth or an orla on Pacifica."

"Any weaknesses?"

"Too soon to tell."

"Is it bioorganic?"

"Possibly." Danan allowed, "It would account for a great deal of what we're witnessing. My sensors are reading emissions that are best described as biorhythms."

"Great." Macen said with more enthusiasm, "So how do we kill it?"

"It's too soon…"

"It's alive." T'Kir interrupted, "I can feel its mind."

"Can you communicate with it?"

T'Kir shook her head, "Not easily. It's intelligent but it's not sentient. It's almost protosentient."

"Like dolphins and whales on Earth or…" Danan began.

"Enough analogies. T'Kir, keep at it; try to convince it we're a friend. Rab, what did it hit us with?"

"Some kind of electroshock burst. Elements of it were electrostatic and resonated with the shields. Those passed through the shields and hit the engine room like a focused ion blast."

"Which would shut engineering down." Macen finished for him, "Where did the blast originate from?"

"It seemed to leap right off its skin."

"That's akin to the electric ray of Earth. Muscular contractions release electrical discharges." Danan offered.

"Any way of stopping it?"

"Not without severing the muscle groupings."

"Now you know your target." Macen told Daggit, "Do your best."

"I'll keep you updated as I learn more about its anatomy." Danan promised.

"Get ready people." Macen warned, "Here it comes."

The Predator made a sublight pass this time. This time the sensors could detect the coiling muscles building up the massive electroshock blast. Tulley targeted the two ventral phaser strips on the charging muscle bundles and fired. One muscle grouping was seared and discharged its energy into space. The other fired as the particle blast approached. The two discharges cancelled each other out.

There was elation on the Obsidian'sbridge but a far different reaction was forthcoming on the Predator's bridge. The Ship Liege's nose vents flared. The Omicron didn't possess noses, just ventilation slits in the face. The Liege rubbed his bald head, they were bald as a species, and began yelling at his crew.

"How could you let a group of mammals defeat you?" he demanded, "These genetically inferior infections are probably laughing at us right now. Shall we allow this to continue?"

He received a rousing vote of dissent and nodded, "Then let's do it better people."

"They're turning for another pass." Daggit reported, "We have no chase armament. We can't fire until they're within range of either the ventral or dorsal phaser strips of the saucer section."

Macen patted him on the shoulder, "Do what you can." He retook his seat and intercommed Dracas, "Get ready for a pounding Chief."

"Worse than before?"

"We've pissed them off. I'd expect them to unleash the fires of hell upon us." Macen informed his chief engineer.

"We'll batten down the hatches."

"Good luck."

"You too."

"They're approaching." Daggit declared, "Interception…now!"

The ship rocked as the electrostatic discharges issued forth. Sparks flew from consoles across the bridge. The lights flickered and the air filled the smell of ozone

Daggit fired the phasers as soon as he had the range. They gouged into the Predator's "flesh". Unfortunately, the sensors showed that the phaser wounds were healing rapidly.

"Of course, a heightened immune system and healing factor." Danan said with admiration in her voice, "All perfectly adapted for space."

"A little less admiration, Commander." Macen chided, "It is trying to kill us."

"Have we tried hailing them?" Grace piped up, "Maybe this is a mistake."

"Hannah," Macen said wearily, "they chased us, shot us, tried to shoot us again and just successfully shot us again. I don't think there's much room for doubt as to their intentions."

"Yeah, but at the Academy they taught us to…"

"Seriously people," Macen cried out in exasperation, "how many frinxing times do I have to explain this? We work for Starfleet but we aren't Starfleet. We operate under a looser set of rules."

"Which are?" Danan asked.

"Whatever I decide they are." Macen answered.

"Not to interrupt, but they're making a third pass." Daggit interjected.

"Any chance of repeating our previous performance?" Macen enquired.

"They're juggling the charges. It's a random pattern. I doubt I can isolate it."

"Do your best." Macen tried to encourage Daggit after that painful admission.

The fourth pass disrupted equipment across the entire ship. The shields were faltering. Several small fires had to be put out in engineering and on the bridge.

"T'Kir! How's our communication coming?" Macen wondered.

"I think it wonders why we keep hurting it if we're friends."

"Because it's shooting at us."

"It's only doing that because its masters are telling it to. It has to trust its masters."

"Oh bullsh…"

Daggit interrupted Macen. "Our shields just collapsed. It seems a residual ionic charge knocked them out."

"What's that thing going to do to us with its next blast?"

"I wouldn't hold onto anything metal."

"Rab, this whole ship's metal."

"Then we're pretty well screwed."

"Actually," Parva chimed in, "the bulk of the interior is made of non-conductive composites. It's why your consoles haven't fried you already. Only Engineering is primarily made of metals."

Macen slapped his comm badge, "Dracas, evacuate engineering."

"What?"

"Evacuate now!"

The electroshock attack came and Dracas was the last man in Engineering. The electrical currents lashed throughout his body as his comrades watched from a viewer outside. Auxiliary power failed and the impulse engines quieted. As soon as the electrical maelstrom ceased, Gilan, the Engineering Mate, summoned a med team. Dracas was covered with burns and was randomly twitching.

"Kort to Macen."

"Go Doctor."

"Chief Dracas has just been brought to Sickbay. He's suffered intense electrical burns. Frankly I don't know how much of his body I can save."

"Just keep him alive." Macen instructed, "Anything else will be a bonus."

"I'd better get to Engineering." Parva said.

"Stand fast." Macen replied, "We've evacuated Engineering and it's staying evacuated. In fact, I'm evacuating the whole ship."

"What makes you think they won't blast lifepods?" T'Kir asked suddenly.

"Do they do that?" Macen enquired.

"They have in the past memory of this vessel."

"I'm only sending everyone to their quarters." Macen explained, "Tom, instruct all personnel to report to their quarters and to engage the emergency seals to their doorways."

Puzzled as everyone else, Riker still complied. No sooner had the internal sensors indicated every last crewmen outside of the bridge was safely locked away in their quarters, then a new sensor beam probed the ship.

"I think they're preparing to utilise some kind of transporter technology only its like nothing I've seen before." Danan reported.

With that said, an omicron warrior wavered into existence on the middle of the bridge. All the Outbound Ventures personnel drew their weapons and took aim. The Ship Liege merely chuckled.

"You may kill me, but you'll doom your ship. My men are even now scouring your vessel seeking to isolate and contain your crewmen."

"Too late." Macen replied, "They're already confined to quarters."

"Let us determine that for ourselves. I do so hate insurrections."

"So what happens now?" Macen asked.

"Now I determine the precise nature and mission of this vessel." The Omicron grimaced in its approximation of a smile, "And hopefully discover how you've managed to get my ship into an argument with the Weapons Master over the value of continued hostilities with you. No one has ever wavered the loyalty of an Omicron ship before."

"We aim to please." Macen quipped.

"It shall be the last time. The individual or individuals responsible will be found and executed."

"Let me just say two words: Omega twelve." The Ship Liege heard the turbolift's emergency seals engage.

"What have you done?" The Liege demanded.

"I've opened every external hatch and bay door. The turbolift shaft doors are open to carry any unwanted passengers towards the nearest available hatch. In short, your men are being sucked out into space. Care to take your chances on your ship winning the argument?"

The Liege slapped a crablike device at his wrist and uttered some guttural words the translator refused to comprehend. He wavered out of existence and quiet reigned on the bridge.

"Brilliant move, sir." Daggit said with admiration in his voice.

"Now let's see if we survive the countermove." Macen said, "Computer, initiate Alpha six."

The hatches and bay doors closed and atmosphere began being pumped into the depleted areas. Daggit checked his board and shook his head.

They're moving away to what appears to be their optimal firing distance."

"Figures." Macen groused, "Lose a few dozen men and everyone gets touchy."

"Captain!" Danan shouted, "I've got a transwarp conduit forming up on our starboard side."

Macen sighed, "Surely the Borg couldn't be worse than the Omicron."

Riker gave him a horrified stare as Danan continued, "Unknown vessel configuration."

"Put it on screen." Macen ordered.

What appeared there was a ship composed of two towers interconnected by bridges. Green and blue light highlighted the towers' surfaces.

"That's a Kelvan battlecruiser!" Grace cried happily, "It's the biggest ship in the fleet."

"So how are they going to differentiate us from the Omicron?" Macen mused.

"The same way they found us, they'll hone in on my Attuner."

"Oh, wonderful." Riker muttered.

"How do the atmosphere levels check out?" Macen asked Danan.

"Back to normal."

"Parva, now you can proceed to Engineering."

The Orion leapt out of her seat and headed for the turbolift. Macen turned to Riker, "Let everyone know they can return to their posts."

Riker got busy and Macen observed the Omicron ship approach the Kelvan ship. The Predator was roughly the size of an Intrepid-class ship. The Kelvan craft was nearly the size of a Borg cube. The Omicron appeared hopelessly outmatched but looks could be deceiving.

The Predator unleashed a volley of electrostatic fire. The Kelvan ship absorbed some minor damage in comparison with its bulk. It returned fire with fifty green energy missiles. T'Kir gasped as the Omicron ship went through its death throes. They didn't last long as the barrage totally destroyed the opposing vessel.

"We're being hailed." Daggit announced.

"Put it on screen." Macen commanded. The image that met them was a middle aged human. Silver haired with a lined face, he appeared to be lean and fit.

"Greetings." Macen began, "My name is Captain Brin Macen. We would like to thank you for your assistance in this matter."

"You took a foolish risk, Captain. You were clearly outmatched. Surely even your sensors revealed this."

"We attempted to retreat rather than engage the Omicron. They pursued and you can see what resulted."

"Have you summoned aid?"

"We're transmitting an SOS even as we speak." Macen explained, "May I congratulate you on your mastery of Federation Basic?"

"It was a long journey and Commander Rojan's reports and tapes were invaluable."

"And now you wish to settle a world of your own?"

A ghost of a smile flickered across the older man's features, "That may depend largely on you."

"I'll try to be of what service I can." Macen assured him, "It's the least I can do."

"May I ask why Hannia has been stripped of her Attuner?"

"Hannia?"

"The true name for the woman you know as Hannah Grace."

Macen sighed, "That's a long story and one best served by our meeting face to face."

"Let me transport aboard your ship." the Kelvan requested, "It would best serve me to accommodate myself with vessels from this galaxy."

"Agreed." Macen conceded, "One last thing, in our culture two potential friends exchange names."

This time the Kelvan did smile, "I am called Parvac."

"I look forward to meeting you Parvac."

Parvac beamed aboard alone. He apparently felt his Attuner was all the protection he needed. Macen couldn't argue the point.

"Interesting matter-energy conversion device. Disorienting but useful." Parvac commented.

"One grows used to it over time." Macen assured him, "Shall we retire to the Briefing Room?"

"Where does the crew recreate?" Parvac asked suddenly.

"Primarily in the Team Room."

"Then that is where we shall hold our discussions." Parvac declared, "My crews are experiencing the beginnings of human emotion. It shall be good to observe first had what we will become."

"Good idea." Macen agreed and led him to the recreation parlour. Parvac was delighted to see dinner being served and sampled everything chef had prepared. He ate voraciously and then finally put his napkin down with a loud belch.

"I can see my people getting used to such edibles. They are…what is the word? Delicious?"

"That's the word. I'm sure chef wouldn't mind you paying her a compliment later."

"Paying him a compliment."

"Repeating your praise for her food to her."

"Ah, yes. Excellent plan. Boosts morale."

"Among other things." Macen allowed, "We find it also increases job performance."

"Through such a minor act?" Parvac wondered, "Astounding."

"What's more astounding is your completion of your long voyage."

"The development of the warp tunnel aided us a great deal."

"We refer to it as a transwarp conduit."

"Interesting name. I am certain there will be many such things."

"To cut to the heart of the matter, why did you wish to see me?"

"Hannia's reports listed you as a fair and just man. You accepted the revelation of her true identity without a qualm. You appeared to feel the same way about the Kelvan refugees."

"As a refugee myself, I have a great deal of sympathy for the displaced."

"Do you think your Starfleet will feel the same way?"

"If you've truly come in peace, they'll embrace you. If you set out with these battlecruisers of your on a path of conquest, you'll be opposed."

"The path of conquest is what caused us to be expelled from our home galaxy. We have no desire to repeat past mistakes. We do not seek conflict. We will defend ourselves when provoked, but we will not seek conflict with others."

"That's all that can be asked." Macen conceded.

"Now about Hannia?"

"She used her Attuner against members of this crew. Instead of asking permission to arrange a meeting between us, she paralysed the crew and hijacked the ship." Macen explained.

"These are serious charges. They must be dealt with."

"They are. She's been deprived of her Attuner and other security precautions have been put in place."

"May I suggest a choice? To remain with your crew or to face justice among the Kelvans."

"Fair enough." Macen tapped his comm badge, "Tom, have Shannon and Rhiann report to the bridge. Have Radil escort Hannah to the transporter."

Macen and Parvac retired to the transporter, "This has been productive, Captain. I hope to do this again in the future."

"So do I." Macen admitted.

The transporter doors opened and Radil led a shackled Grace into the room.

"Hannia, I have a simple proposition for you, come with me and face Kelvan justice or stay here with these creatures and fulfil their punishment. There is a price, if you stay, your Attuner comes with me. You will be Kelvan by birth alone. You will be stripped from the ranks of the Expeditionary Forces. You may visit the colony world, but you will have no status or place there outside of your parent's generosity. Do you understand these terms?"

Grace nodded, face ashen.

"Then choose." Parvac commanded imperiously.

"I…" Grace's voice faltered, "I choose them."

"So be it. Captain, her Attuner." Macen removed it from his pocket and handed it over. Parvac removed a golden disk from his belt, "A communicator so that you may remain in contact with your family."

"My business here is concluded." Parvac announced.

"Step onto a pad and Telrik will transport you back aboard your ship."

"Until we meet again, Brin Macen."

Parvac disappeared in a shimmering blaze of light. Grace stood immobile looking stunned, clutching her communicator.

"Jenrya," Macen said softly, "remove the shackles and escort her to her quarters."

"Should I post a guard?"

Macen shook his head, "She has nowhere left to run to. She chose her home and that home is here. It's time we begin to make her feel welcome again."

"If you say so." Radil muttered as she removed the handcuffs and led Grace out of the room.

Macen tapped his comm badge, "T'Kir, Grace's in her room. She desperately needs a friend."

"What's she done now?"

"Something right." Macen said with a tinge of pride.